Aid Raised By U.s. Hispanics Not Reaching Volcano Victims

NEW YORK — Nearly three months after a volcano eruption killed 25,000 Colombians, millions of dollars raised by sympathetic Hispanic-Americans still have not been spent.

About $266,000 of the $2.8 million raised in the United States for distribution by the Colombian Red Cross has actually been sent to Colombia or used to buy desperately needed supplies.

In fact, $2 million of $2.2 million that had been collected as of Dec. 31 sat in a bank in Washington, the site of American Red Cross headquarters. After inquiries, $1 million was sent last Thursday to the League of Red Cross Societies in Geneva, Switzerland, presumably for distribution to the ravaged nation. Another $840,000 has been committed for supplies to be bought in the United States. The remaining $700,000 is still in Washington.

Red Cross spokesman Brian Ruberry said the money has not been spent because the Colombian Red Cross has not made additional requests for funding or supplies.

''In our conversations with the Colombian Red Cross, they have told us what they need and there is no immediate need for the items and we are using the public money in a very wise manner,'' he said.

However, some Hispanic-American leaders who organized the drive said the needs remain enormous. The problem, they say, is that the Colombian Red Cross has not been told how much money is available and so has not developed the plans needed.

Reinaldo Lindo, the president of the Por Ti Colombia Committee, the organizing group for fund-raising efforts across the United States, said the Colombians have had no idea how many millions are available for their use.

It was Nov. 14 that a snow-capped volcano in northern Colombia came to life for the first time in 400 years. About 25,000 were killed and thousands left homeless.

Around the world, millions watched news reports of people being dragged from the mud that covered their towns and homes. Relief efforts began immediately. Red Cross officials say $6 million was collected within the League of Red Cross Societies.

Almost half of that was collected in a fund-raising drive by Hispanic leaders throughout the United States. The drive focused upon a telethon on the Spanish International Network. The telethon raised $1.3 million. An additional $1.5 million was raised through other fund-raising efforts.